Suspect in KCPD officer shooting linked to dead woman

A suspect involved in a Kansas City Police standoff and shooting Thursday is now linked to the death of 19-year-old Michelle Russell.

Kansas City Police Department Capt. Tye Grant says detectives have requested to speak with Joel Bravard in regard to Michelle Russell's death. Police identified Bravard as the man involved in an officer shooting Thursday morning at the 500 block of North Lawndale Avenue in Kansas City, reports Grant.

Grant said KCPD officers were conducting a residence check to serve a Platte County warrant for a wanted subject. According to Grant, a person inside the residence began to shoot the officers who were still outside, striking one in his leg. The officers returned fire and took cover. The officer shot was eventually removed from the scene and taken to a hospital. Grant also said his injuries appear to be minor.

Later on in the afternoon, police surrounded the residence to try to get the man to surrender. Officers entered the residence and found Bravard, who had been shot. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, adds Grant.

As to why KCPD detectives are requesting to speak with Bravard in regards to Michelle Russell's case, Grant said it is believed he was with her at the time of her death on Nov. 22.

Russell's body was found inside an abandoned vehicle behind Centerpoint Medical Center near 35th Street and Jackson Drive in Independence. Russell was initially taken to North Kansas City Hospital on Nov. 22. Kansas City police said at the time that detectives believed the people Russell was with at the time realized she was dead, got scared, and fled the hospital. Later that same morning is where Independence Police found her body in Independence.

Detectives were leaning toward considering her cause of death as a result of self-inflicted gunshot wound. Grant has not yet disclosed the exact relation between Bravard and Russell at the time of this writing.